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Beth Bruno - We're talking about secret ambitions tonight. For me, being a writer.
Beth Bruno - Do any of you want to learn about writing for the Web?
Beth Bruno - Have any of you been writing articles --- been published?
Beth Bruno - The first thing I tried to write was a children's book.
Beth Bruno - Some of you could write great children's stories!
wizzlewolf - Yes, I have. I have done a number of articles for my field and I was the Editor of a quarterly journal. However, I want to write books.
Beth Bruno - For those of you interested in writing, do you keep a journal?
Beth Bruno - Fiction or non-fiction, Wizzlewolf?
Mary/PA - From where do you get your ideas for topics to write about?
wizzlewolf - Non-fiction
Beth Bruno - For op-ed pieces, I write my opinions about social issues or politics or education. For other articles, I write what I know.
Beth Bruno - What I know best is child development, parenting and psychology.
wizzlewolf - Gee, I wonder where the speaker is? Usually they are here by now.
Mary/PA - Beth Bruno is the host of this evening's chat about writing and getting it published
Beth Bruno - There's no speaker. Just a moderator, and that person is me.
Windy - Beth, Why did you decide not to write children's stories?
Beth Bruno - There is an article in this week's Gazette about tonight's topic.
Beth Bruno - The character I created, Granny Gumption, was a salty dame, but I couldn't seem to make her adventures ring true.
Beth Bruno - Wizzlewolf, maybe your first book could be based on a topic from one of your articles. What do you write about?
wizzlewolf - Oh duh....I know that! I didn't connect the name. Usually there is an introduction... Sorry. Tee Hee
Mary/PA - How do you organize your thoughts when you set out to write an article or book or anything else?
Windy - I would love to write, but I don't know how to get started. I've done a few stories just for myself, but that's it.
Beth Bruno - Sometimes I create an outline. Sometimes I just sit down and write on a topic and the ideas gradually appear. Next comes the rewriting!
wizzlewolf - What I plan to write about isn't what I have already written about....I used to write for art journals. I want to write education oriented books now.
Beth Bruno - Once in awhile I write something that doesn't need much editing, but usually I write several pages before I get what I want.
Mary/PA - wizzlewolf, what area of education?
Beth Bruno - One very helpful resource is a site called "Writers Digest. URL: http://www.writersdigest.com
Beth Bruno - Writers Digest is also a monthly magazine - talking about fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, books - all kinds of writing plus how-to.....
wizzlewolf - Well that is up for grabs too. I think I have TOO many ideas and interests. Art ed, Special ed, technology, it is up for grabs!! LOL
Beth Bruno - It helps to define your audience - then you have an idea who you're talking to.
Beth Bruno - Begin with short essays, something manageable before tackling something like a book.
Beth Bruno - Any body want to write a soap opera about what goes on in schools? That would be a humdinger!
Windy - Don't get me started...I could write volumes!
Mary/PA - Beth, you would be in a good position to do that
Beth Bruno - Just hang out in the teacher's room for a few weeks and have fabulous material!
Mary/PA - You would know a lot about what is going on in school - I'm locked up in my room all day and have no idea what is going on outside my room
Beth Bruno - Sincerely, the public doesn't know half the good, bad, indifferent, even hilarious about school life.
Beth Bruno - What would you most like to write about, Mary?
Beth Bruno - What have you written so far, Windy?
Mary/PA - Does anyone know if the writers for that new TV show have a background in teaching?
Beth Bruno - The show called Boston Public?
Mary/PA - Boston Public - I haven't seen it yet
wizzlewolf - Mary, are you speaking of "Boston Public"? They have to have writers or a consultant who knows teaching. Some of the scripts are so right on...
Beth Bruno - I haven't seen it either, but I'd guess the writers have at least done some onsite observations - and lots of them.
Beth Bruno - I'm sure they've talked to lots of teens, too.
Beth Bruno - Maybe they're looking for material - we could contribute a story or two.
Mary/PA - Is writing for the web easier that writing for hard copy publications?
wizzlewolf - The story lines are a bit far fetched at times, but some of the monologues are very true to form in real life teacher concerns.
Beth Bruno - Do any of you write scripts for school plays?
Mary/PA - easier than, not that - my fingers don't listen to my brain
Windy - Beth, I've just written a few short stories. (More putzing about than anything) Usually they have some sort of a horse theme to them (My hobby is Dressage Riding) I've had one story several people have been encouraging me on, I just don't what to do next.
Beth Bruno - The writing is very similar, but it's easier to get published on the Web than in print (from my experience).
Beth Bruno - Windy, are you familiar with websites that publish horse/riding stories? You could send your story to one of the editors for their comments.
Beth Bruno - On nearly every site there is an email address and often a person's name to contact with questions.
Mary/PA - Teachers.Net is always looking for articles for the Gazette
Windy - No, I'm not. I wasn't even aware there was anything like that!
Beth Bruno - There are also several magazines about English riding - that's another possibility.
Beth Bruno - The best place to find a market for your work is to go to the library and ask the librarian to show you their reference copy of Writers Market - the bible for writers looking to get published.
Beth Bruno - That's a great point, Mary. What about some of your articles, Wizzlewolf - for the Gazette?
Windy - My husband will love me - he works in a library.
Beth Bruno - Teachers.Net is a site with lots of traffic. I receive questions and comments from readers frequently.
Beth Bruno - If any of you want me to comment about one of your articles I'd be happy to. Email: bbruno@snet.net
Beth Bruno - I can also suggest possible publication outlets.
Mary/PA - Writing for the Gazette here at Teachers.Net is a good way to get recognized by other publications
Beth Bruno - Hi Marie. We're talking about writing and getting published. Any questions you have about it?
Beth Bruno - Oops, she was too quick for me.
Beth Bruno - Do all of you know how to use search engines?
Beth Bruno - To find publications online about dressage, for example,
Windy - I use them quite a lot.
Beth Bruno - You can go to URL: http://www.metacrawler.com and put the word "dressage" in the search window
Beth Bruno - or put the words "English riding magazines" in the window.
Beth Bruno - Metacrawler is a super-search engine that searches other search engines and gives you the top matches.
Windy - I'll give it a try later!
Beth Bruno - The Web is a fantastic research tool for writers.
Beth Bruno - No one commented about writing scripts for student plays. The kids can help.
Beth Bruno - One of my students (in third grade) wrote a series of stories about Benny the Penny - it made several cute scenes.
Windy - I haven't tried that yet. It does sound interesting.
Beth Bruno - penny kept falling out of someone's hands or through a hole in the pocket and would get picked up by a new character (a robber, for example) and on to the next adventure.
Beth Bruno - A book I found very helpful getting started was called The Artist's Way bu Julia Cameron.
Mary/PA - Oh, that sounds interesting! I think that child has a future in writing - he or is it she - has ideas!
Beth Bruno - Another one is Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Windy - Have any of you written with a partner (co-author)?
Mary/PA - Is coming up with an idea the most difficult part of the writing process?
Beth Bruno - I think most people have lots of ideas - it's giving the ideas shape that's hard - zeroing in on something and bringing it into focus.
Beth Bruno - I've never written with others for publication, but I've collaborated with others on diagnostic reports.
Windy - How do you make time for writing? I never seem to get a moment's rest at home.
Beth Bruno - I've never written with someone else for publication, but I've collaborated with others to write test reports.
Mary/PA - Not me Windy - I've never written anything either way
Beth Bruno - Making time for it is a matter of priorities. If you set aside a certain time each day, it becomes part of your routine.
Mary/PA - Erma Bombeck - I know I didn't spell that correctly - she always had such great ideas, don't you think?
Beth Bruno - Julia Cameron suggested journal writing - in her book she provides several "exercises" to get you started. They're imaginative and fun.
Mary/PA - She could take a little everyday thing and turn it into an adventure
Beth Bruno - Erma Bombeck was a fabulous humorist - and she wrote about everyday life. Just like one of us could write about some of the fun and funny things that happen in classrooms and with kids and parents.
Windy - How much time do you allow yourself? Or does it vary from day to day?
Beth Bruno - It's so true that kids say and do the darndest things - and so do parents and teachers!
Beth Bruno - When I started out, I wrote in a journal every day for half an hour. that's all. The first 10 minutes was always junk, but after that all kinds of interesting ideas bubbled up.
Mary/PA - Beth, have you ever written something of a humorous nature?
Beth Bruno - Julia said that would happen - I didn't believe it - but she was absolutely right.
Beth Bruno - Yes, I've written several humorous pieces. One was about going shopping for sneakers with a 12 year old.
Windy - Beth, was your journal personal, or just more for brainstorming?
Mary/PA - Oh, Beth, that would be a great story!
Windy - I keep saying I should write about my son...
Beth Bruno - Since I was writing about some of the prompts in The Artist's Way, it was both personal and "other."
Beth Bruno - How old is your son, Windy?
Windy - He'll be three in Jan. We have another on the way....I have time on my hands...the dr. confined me to bed...thank goodness for the net!
Beth Bruno - It also helps to let someone you trust see your writing and give you their reactions.
Beth Bruno - Gee, time to write!
Beth Bruno - Anything else you would like to talk about, Mary or Windy?
Windy - This question might seem silly...Were you ever afraid someone would take your ideas (storylines) and use them?
Beth Bruno - We have a small group tonight.
Mary/PA - Being confined to bed and running after a 3 year old could provide some interesting topics to write about!
Beth Bruno - When I first started publishing on the web, I was worried about plagiarism, but not anymore.
Beth Bruno - Someone told me that imitation is a form of flattery.
Windy - It sure is turning out that way Mary!
Beth Bruno - That's for sure. Just the antics of a three year old can, too. Their ideas are so fresh and wonderful.
Beth Bruno - My daughter loved dressing up in all kinds of silly get-ups at that age. And my son wanted to be a superhero.
Windy - My husband put a small fridge in the room for me....just this evening I found a hammer in there cooling off.
Beth Bruno - So I made lots of capes for him and his friends. That's all it took to transform them.
Beth Bruno - A hammer cooling off? - that's hilarious.
Beth Bruno - I think the saying is, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
Windy - One good thing...besides wearing his Pooh video out, he loves to read with mom.
Beth Bruno - I think most people are honest. Few would copy the work of someone else and pass it off as their own.
Beth Bruno - How long will you be on bed rest?
Mary/PA - When you write, does the title come first or last - I meant when do you realize the perfect title for what you have written or will write
Windy - The baby is due in Feb. I said goodbye to my "kids" before Halloween. I get to go back to work in March.
Beth Bruno - Titles. hmmm. I always submit a title, but editors often change them, so the title isn't sacrosanct - just the text is.
Beth Bruno - Editors don't usually change text, but they often cut it.
Beth Bruno - That's really annoying.
Windy - I've never had much luck with titles. I can't start a story w/a title...I drives me nuts.
Beth Bruno - I usually decide on a title after an article is done. I rarely start with one - I just start with a topic.
Mary/PA - What grade do you teach, Windy?
Windy - We had an author here last year who told horror stories about the editors and illustrators.
Windy - I teach 2nd grade. I've been teaching about 8 years.
Beth Bruno - It's about time to sign off. Good luck with your writing, Windy and with your pregnancy. I hope all goes well. So long, Mary. Thanks for all your questions and comments.
Mary/PA - Second graders are neat
Mary/PA - Thanks Beth, have a great week
Windy - Thank you for your help! I enjoyed the chat!
Mary/PA - See you next time
Beth Bruno - Send me a story or two, for fun. We can read some of each others' favorites.
Windy - Good night!
Beth Bruno - Good night
Mary/PA - I wish I had something to send
Mary/PA - Good night
Windy - I will Beth!
